Just some thoughts from the perspective of a parent and fan (and at most a u9/10 volunteer assistant coach) whose kids have experienced many different kids of coaching along the way from 4v4 rec to club and HS 11v11: Playing out of the back, pushing up the entire team including the defenders in possession to stay connected, and generally trying to keep possession all help keep the entire team involved. This is crucial if you want all your players to have the chance to develop. My younger d’s coach at 9v9 explicitly taught the idea of trying to win back the ball as quickly and high up the field as possible. This meant a lot of other things like attackers tracking back, midfield and defense being in position to collect loose balls in the midfield and restart the attack, etc. On goal kicks and long free kicks, defenders were taught not to let the ball get behind them. By the end of 9v9 all the stronger teams were consistently taking the ball out of the air. The offside rule was almost never mentioned in any of these situations. By contrast, holding your defenders back near your penalty box to stop the occasional breakaway or ball over their heads can take them almost completely out of the game. This works until you get some teams that can actually work the ball in the attacking half. Then you realize your big defenders have spent 3+ years standing there not learning how to play the situation or the ball. Tournaments: this is a tricky one that most team parents seem to have strong opinions about. On the one hand you’re supposed to be playing games tor development. On the other hand if you lose and go home, you don’t play any more games. Personally, at younger ages really I think you have to try and play the way you train and see how it goes under game pressure. Otherwise you’re just teaching the kids that you only play the supposed “right” way until it actually matters.
Our club's rec program doesn't display standings until 5th grade. We start score reporting in the spring of 2nd grade as a means of sorting teams into divisions (yes we have promotion/relegation in rec soccer ) starting in the fall of 3rd grade. One of the benefits of having a large program is that we can strive to make games as balanced as possible.
"Long ball is back, baby" TLDR: Man City keeper (Ederson) is making a lot of long passes lately. The opponents press high. So they can create good chances by going long (of course, they have Haaland so it makes sense). "It's back, not as a way of relieving pressure in your build up, but actually creating pressure against opponents backline" I rest my case Thanks to the new Pep "long ball" Guardiola everyone will now follow suit
Absolutely, I hold the belief that any professional team should possess the versatility to employ a variety of strategies. This includes defensive tactics like "parking the bus," swift counter-attacks, utilizing a target man for long ball plays, or maintaining possession. These athletes are at the pinnacle of their sport, and should readily adapt to whatever strategy proves most effective. If the approach consistently relies on launching long balls to the younger players, it's almost certain that by the time these players reach 14 or 15, they'll likely exhibit the common traits seen in American players—adequate fitness but shortcomings in controlling the ball and maintaining possession. A complete skill set is essential for becoming an exceptional player. Relying solely on sending the ball over the defensive line and depending on a fast-growing kid to chase it might bring in victories at a young age, but in the grand scheme, it's not particularly impressive. The long ball strategy has never truly disappeared from professional play. Every method is on the table when aiming for victory. The distinction lies in the fact that professionals can control airborne passes, transition to possession play when necessary, and possess a well-rounded skill set. These athletes are beyond the developmental phase. Our focus here is on young players, nurturing their competence across all facets of the game with the hope of shaping them into superior players. Also I think that video is a bit much, he is showing stats from last year vs a single game against BURNLEY.
This is minor on the grand scheme of things, but I was so happy the other day when our younger son asked us to bring down his cleats and a ball when we came down for freshman parents' weekend at his college. It's just intramurals (some guys on his dorm floor put together a team), but it's so nice to know that's he's "lacing up the boots" again, even just for fun.
That's such a great feeling! Knowing they have a lifelong love of the game, and can pick it up anywhere when they need to make friends or blow off steam--that should be goal. You must have done something right as a soccer parent not to burn him out on the sport. My son had quit playing completely earlier this year; but lately he's been playing coed for fun, and he's thinking that his personal trainer business he's trying to get going on the side should focus on developing young soccer players specifically. Also, we watched the end of the US v Ghana friendly together--first time we've watched any soccer together in ages.
I've watched a couple of high schools games with my youngest son in the past week -- first live soccer we've watched together since he was looking at colleges last year and a real treat for pop. That said, he's home because he developed mono a couple of weeks ago, so he's done with soccer for this fall and has a long road back. Anyone been through this or had a kid go through it and then try to come back to contact sports? There are some complicating issues related to the spleen and liver that I had no idea were part of this.
Had it in 9th grade, out of school for 2 weeks, out of gym class for 4 months due to the enlarged spleen issue. My Dr. excuse would expire and I'd resume gym class before the next appt and get a new one. After the 2nd time the gym teacher, realizing the liability issue, said no gym until I had a note from the doctor allowing it vs preventing it. This was the 80s. It cleared up just in time for baseball season to start. Best of luck to you and your son.
How do you fit in another sport with comp soccer? Do you skip the 2nd sport when there is a conflict? Or skip soccer? Or split them evenly?
Depends on the kid's priorities and the commitments he has made. My son plays school basketball, but it’s acknowledged that it comes after soccer and piano and homework. When I played, I wasn't terribly serious about anything, and therefore there was almost no overlap. I think I split evenings between judo and soccer and flute in the fall. There was no winter or spring soccer, so it was just judo and flute the rest of the school year (I don't enjoy basketball and I never had interest in organized baseball). And all of those were more important to me than scouts, so scouts got dropped PDQ (only one year). It's just important to find the balance.
Much appreciated. That pretty much matches his timeline so far -- almost two weeks back with mom and dad, back to school today, no cardio for an extended period and no contact for a longer period (I think his doctor said three months). It's incredible how hard it knocks him out. He has 6 or maybe 8 hours a day to be away and do whatever he's going to do (not all at one time), and that's it. He's out. The school has thankfully been great -- an upside of DIII and the mostly small schools, I guess.
1) Determine how much overlap their is between the sports. 2) Determine which sport is more of a priority to you (and child). This could be weighted toward one sport or fairly even. 3) Decide, based on the results of #2, how you will handle conflicts. Always favor one sport? "Take turns" on which sport gets priority? Depend on the "importance" of the game/tournament? 4) Talk to coaches/organizers to let them know your decision from #3. Be willing to suffer any "consequences" from the coach who didn't get the "priority" (this could be losing a starting role, losing playing time, or nothing). Personally, we always gave priority to soccer. But we were even on multiple soccer teams (school and club for example) at the same time that caused conflicts.
Thanks. It came up this past weekend. He had an overlap with baseball and soccer. He could do half the baseball game and still make the full soccer game, so that's what we did. But I felt bad pulling him from the baseball game. I could tell the coach was disappointed (not angry, but just a bit let down). My kid is one of the better kids on the baseball team, but it's just rec baseball. But this is fall baseball; it's just 7 games. The big baseball season is spring which is 16 games (Little League). I don't know how that's going to work out; I'm kinda dreading having to make those decisions on which sport to miss. I wish there was, for the young ages, a "sports club" where kids could play a few different sports under the same organization.
You've mentioned that before, but I still think you'd run into the same problems (scheduling conflicts). The sporting events need to be in the weekday evenings or through the day on weekends. Depending on how many fields/courts and how many teams need to play, you could still end up with limited availability. If your son does play Little League as well as competitive soccer, talk to the coach(es) before the season to let them know how you're going to handle conflicts. This way they can make a game plan. I hope in the situation this past weekend, you let the baseball coach know what you were going to do at some point BEFORE game day.
There are two youth clubs in my area that have MLS Next teams. They both usually have tryouts in early June. However, both clubs also hold MLS Next ID clinics in late winter/early spring. I understand college ID clinics, but I'm not fully understanding ID events for youth teams that already have tryouts. At this level, what is the difference between a tryout and an ID clinic? Should an interested player attend both?
Barring cost or other things, why not? I would GUESS the ID clinic would give coaches (whoever) a "pre-look" opportunity at the kids. Maybe they then keep an eye out during the spring season at games and tournaments for the kids they're interested in? I would think that would be better than seeing someone "new" at a tryout.
From what I could find it seems that they are similar, but the tryout is open to anyone... whereas the ID clinic is more for players who are already playing in say ECNL or similar level. Prob best to ask the clubs though. Prob would not hurt to do which ever comes first if you're kids are trying to get into the club.
Here's an interesting thought/situation, thought it might be worth a discussion here... DD is a senior in HS. Members of her club team participate in an indoor league (walls are 'out') at an athletic facility. They're in the HS division. This year there are four teams (including hers). So we play each team twice. Today we played the first team again. We won the first time 7-2 (I think). DD is the GK for this group. With three minutes left, up 8-0, the coach pulls her and puts her in as forward at two minutes left. About 30 seconds after being in, she one touches a rebound into the goal for #9. The team goes nuts for her. The parents go nuts for her (we've been together for 9(?) years now). After the game, as we're walking out, one of our parents says "I was thinking, was it "unsporting" to be cheering so hard for <name's> goal?" The consensus was "no". But I thought it might be interesting to hear here. DD played GK all four years of HS, so obviously never scored. She plays CB for the club team, has scored definitely less than 5 times in the last 9 years there. Anyway, feel free to discuss if you'd like...
Given that it was a GK that scored, I think it's reasonable to celebrate. I'm sure the other team would have done the same. Congrats, I'm sure that will make a great memory someday!
I played a lot of keeper as a kid and as an adult playing in rec leagues over the years -- I probably scored so few goals in organized soccer that you could count them on two hands. So yeah, if a keeper scores in a kids' game, have at it. An exception might be if the score is so lopsided it's genuinely embarrassing (like 15-0 or more). At that point, just don't score any more, and no celebrating if someone does happen to knock one in. I remember a couple of those games in indoor soccer when my youngest played.
Oh, we've definitely had those. Indoor seems to be easier to score. There's one other girl who hasn't scored yet this year, normal CB, HS & club team captain. I think we'd still go nuts if she scored, regardless of the differential.
Good morning, everyone. My name is Iñaki, and I am writing to you from Bilbao, in the Basque Country. I would appreciate it if you could briefly explain to me how youth soccer works in the USA because I'm having a hard time understanding it. The issue is that I am looking for a High School for my son to attend 12th grade in the USA. The only condition my son has is to continue playing soccer throughout the year so that when he returns, he can continue competing at the same level. He has a high skill level but is realistic, understanding that he won't pursue a professional career in the sport. The problem is that all the schools we've been offered only compete for one quarter of the year. Some schools offer year-round training but actual competition only happens for one quarter. Is this true? Is there any league or competition where one can compete throughout the year? Honestly, it's challenging for us to grasp this system from Europe. I imagine this system might cause a loss of a lot of talent among young athletes in the USA. Thank you very much, and greetings.
Yes, HS soccer is generally just around 3 months. Most players will also find a "club" team to continue training and playing the other 9 months of the year. Thats the simple answer. The quality of HS play is usually "less than" club play, ESPECIALLY high level club. There are a LOT of levels for "club", and lots of divisions, and teams, even within the same club. I would suggest selecting an area of the US to focus on and then searching/asking questions about what's available in that area.